Cancer can not defeat you

“Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.”

Psalms 91:6 NLT -- http://bible.com/116/psa.91.6.nlt

I hate cancer. But I must confess, my family has not directly been affected by this terrible illness. Sure I know people that are suffering from cancer. The battle is real and the stakes are high. Death is at the door. Even though this disease is devastating and literally lurks at every corner, I do not dread it. I do not dread any physical or mental illness. I can live my life in peace because of my loving Heavenly Father. 

There is a young man at my school that has been fighting cancer. I am so impressed with his ability to keep a positive attitude even thought he has gone through countless painful treatments. I have a colleague's husband who has battled this dreaded illness also and her faith is as strong as  ever. We just lost a valued community member to a very intense and brief battle with cancer. The family has remained strong with the help of their faith. No one wants to go through the suffering of a major illness. But, I can't imagine going through a cancer  battle or any other health issue without Jesus. We can overcome all of life's hurdles when we have that deep relationship with Jesus. Jesus knows and feels our pain. When we cry, he cries. When we suffer he suffers. Devote your life to him and he will carry your burdens. There is no trial to big. There is not trial that he alone will not defeat. Trust him.

Dear Lord, I love you and praise you for the oeace you bring into my life. I have encountered so many troubles in my life and you have always been there for me. I praise you for watching over those that are battling cancer or have lost loved ones to this dreaded disease. Continue to be with them make your presence known. Give these people peace through the darkness. I love you Lord and praise you every day my life. Amen!

Do you have any enemies?

“When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.”

Proverbs 16:7 NLT (http://bible.com/116/pro.16.7.nlt)

I am devoted to living a life pleasing to the Lord. It doesn't always happen. Over the years of pursuing that goal, I have seen very positive results. I'm not sure I really have any "enemies". Sure I have people that don't like me and some may hate me. But, we are at peace. I am not aware of their presence. They don't affect me. I can take no credit for that peace or the lack of evidence my enemies even exist. My loving savior has shielded me from my enemies.

I am so blessed. My life is full. It is full, busy, and greatly rewarding. I praise my Lord for his love, his protection, and the joy in my life. Thank you Lord for shielding me from my enemies and keeping me safe and secure. I love you and praise you for your wonderful grace mercy and love! Amen!

Water under the bridge!

Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins— even those you do in secret. Then you won't be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry. (Job 11:13-18 CEV)

I have heard this saying hundreds of times, "That's water under the Bridge!" I hear it often when some one is trying to tell me to forget something. I never knew it was biblical. It's hard for me to forget about my faults and failures. Sometimes I have a dificult time forgiving and forgetting. I struggle forgiving myself and others. Being a Christian puts you under a microscope with others but also yourself. Because I know the power of God, I also know he knows everything about me. He knows my deepest and darkest sins. There is shame for that weakness. But this is verse states it all. I need to surrender it ALL to God. 

When I surrender to my Heavenly Father, I slept easier at night. I walk through my day with confidence and more importantly it allows me time to focus on the job at hand. If My mind is occupied with my failures and shortcomings, I can not focus on the things that really matter. Surrender!

Lord I know my sins. I praise you for removing them and giving me confidence in my weakness. You have granted this amazing gift through your son, Jesus. Thank you Lord for washing my sins away in that water that flows under the bridge. I praise you for the peace, joy, and hope you provide in the midst of the pain! Amen!

Stop-----Breathe

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

Sometimes I feel like the world is traveling so fast it's going to spin me off into space at any moment. It seems like this time of year when we are supposed to radiate peace and goodwill to men, I am filled with an overwhelming schedule of busyness. Time flies by and I don't take the time to really celebrate the season. I don't like it and my attitude shows it. 

It's at points like this, I need to "Be still," and know GOD IS IN CONTROL. it's hard to do, but God has no desire for us to be exhausted, frazzled, and living a life spinning out of control. So let's STOP..........Take a deep breath...........and know that God is in control. The Lord of the universe is with us. Just like Jesus came down to live with us, so did the spirit of the one high God. Relax, focus on the peace of Jesus Christ and welcome the Holy Spirit to calm your life.

Praise the Lord for getting us to stop, reflect on your love, and enjoy the peace we desperately need. Thank you for my wonderful life. Help me keep you in the forefront and all else in the periphery. Keep my eyes upon you, Jesus. 

I write late!

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (Psalm 94:19 NIV)

I write most of my blog posts late at night. I reread them in the morning and then post them before I read the newspaper. I do this, partly, because it takes me some time to wind down from the day. My time with the Lord is the very best way to relieve my anxiety. My mind is in constant motion. There is always one more lesson to prepare, one more grade to enter, one more email to reply, or one more post to make. Focusing on the Lord removes the stress. It removes the anxiety, and it provides the peace to gently rock me to sleep.

I find prayer an bible study are my greatest comfort and instruments of peace. My time with Jesus gives me the mental strength to relax my mind. I think we all need time to unwind after out hectic days. Many people use destructive means to relax, drugs, alcohol, an inappropriate websites don't provide the peace from building a relationship with Christ. Real peace and joy comes Christ. I know this first hand. Praise God for his wonderful peace and the joy in my heart! Good Night!

STOP THE TEASING!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15 NIV)

Sarcasm is dangerous! I love kidding with students, friends, and family. But, I know for a fact it can go too far. Many times "picking" on someone, teasing, and sarcasm ends with hurt feelings. It always starts out as fun, but continuous, relentless teasing and sarcasm can get old and eventually gets tiresome for the recipient. I cross that line way too often and I need to stop it!

We need to promote peace and building up others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ, not tearing them down, even in jest. I will say that I have never been offended, but I know others that have and have even brought it up to me. I would like to tell those people they need to not take it so serious. I would like to say, "lighten up". I don't know anyone who  does this type of teasing that means it for harm, including myself. But, I also understand that after a while it can get old. If all you hear from someone is the verbal jousting, you start wondering if they really mean what they say. You start wondering if your own faith family loves you. Teasing and verbal harassment can tear a group apart, quickly.

It is said you need to say at least three positives to out weigh the just one negative in someone's life. I think this applies to teasing. We need to take time to demonstrate the love of each other. We need to say it, we need to act on it. We need to love each other with our WORDS and deeds.

So, stop the teasing, or at the very least build up more than you tease! Love your brothers and sisters as Christ has loved you! We are members of one body and we are to promote the PEACE OF Christ!

Sleep

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8 NIV)

I was exhausted yesterday. It's the first time I remember nearly falling asleep at school. I got home, went to a meeting, and then crashed hard. The older I get the longer it takes to physically recover from a busy trip. I am thankful The Lord provides rest and safe sleep in the midst of our busy lives. 

I have not had any problems sleeping. Really, I haven't had difficulty sleeping and staying asleep for years. I believe my peaceful slumber is due to my faith in Jesus Christ. I have learned, with 90% success, to turn my stresses over to Christ. When I find myself stressing out I just have to go to prayer and release the object of my stress. It really works. The Lord of my life cares about my sleep, my stress and everything that occurs in my life. Praise God for his wondeful peace!

I'm ok with nothing to do!

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. (Revelation 22:3 NIV)

I'm sitting here at my daughters home in Eureka, Missouri. So far this morning I watched my youngest granddaughter in her jumper, screaming with excitement, I've taken Ayla on a morning trip donut shopping, and made my middle granddaughter cry. Over all I would say I've had a pretty good morning! 

The best part of spring break is no real schedule. I don't have to be anywhere, I don't have a bell going off every 85 minutes, I can eat lunch when I want, and my nap becomes the most important part of the day!

I look forward to Heaven and the peace it brings. I know it's so much more than naps, no schedules, and no stress. People always talk about learning why events happened in their lives. They want to know the "Whys" of the universe. I certainly have things I would like to know. But, that's not my goal. I want to just have peace. I want to rest, relax, and enjoy eternity with Jesus. I want my family and friends with me. Peace that surpasses all understanding. That's the goal!

Thank you Lord for the promise of eternity with you. I praise you for the present life I live and my future in eternity!

Peace over troubled waters

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

I think I am getting to a point where I understand this verse. While my life is a great blessing and I have received so much more than I deserve, I have witnessed trouble. I see and feel tension every day I walk this earth. I see tensions in education dealing with reform. I see political tension in our country. I see stress in ideological differences about abortion, gay marriages, gun rights, and finances. These topics and the everyday stresses of parenthood, marriage, work, health, and disasters make life nearly unbearable, at times. As a Christian I can fall into the same trap of gloom and dispair. But, Jesus has promised us peace through our lives. Through him we can more than survive our stesses, we can overcome them and be at peace. He provides that "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" that we sang about years ago. We don't need to fear the raging flood waters because Jesus provides us a path to peace.

Do not fear, God is with us. There is no greater peace than the love of Christ. Praise God he's in control of my life. He can remove our stress and anxiety today and everyday. We just have to relinquish control. We have to live and breathe the gospel in our lives. We need to make it the center of all we do. Life can not defeat us when we have the creator of the universe on our side. We can overcome with the precious blood of Jesus, sacrificed that we might live forever in peace. That means from today forward. You can't find that kind of complete peace anywhere else!

The tossing sea!

But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:20, 21 NIV)

Many years ago, Stephanie and I had a foster son. He recently retired from the Navy. We are so proud of him and the life he has lived. We are also envious that he now lives in Hawaii. It's below zero here in Indiana and we have a windchill of -25. Early in his Navy career he invited me to come on a family cruise with him. It was great, with one exception. I got sea sick. A Navy ship isn't a luxury liner. I was fine until the evening when I tried to sleep in the Small Birth of a seaman. I couldn't handle it. We ended up spending the night on deck.

Some peoples lives are just like that trip on the waves. Their lives are filled with turmoil, conflict, and unrest. I see so many kids with lives that are the same way. They need peace and the best way to find real peace is through Jesus Christ. Family conflict, job strife, broken relationships, and financial issues do not need to destroy your life like a tidal wave. Jesus can provide peace. I know because it is true in my own life. The more I lean on him. The greater the peace, the clearer the direction.

 Praise God for the joy and peace he provides in my life. His plan is perfect. When I allow him to rule my day, the blessings are abundant!

Beauty in the midst of a blizzard!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

I spent all day yesterday fighting with a blizzard. We got over a foot of snow. It came down at rate of at least an inch an hour. I don't have a snowblower and didn't want to have to dig out of +12 inches of snow at one time. Plus the forecast, which has been verified this morning, is for subzero temps.

So now I'm sitting here after having a great breakfast with my wife and looking at the beautiful NEW snowfall. Sitting here in a warm home with the wind blowing the snow outside is really beautiful. The four foot drifts will be a lot of work to shovel from in front of the garage, but from my comfy chair, they look peaceful. 

Every day I renew my faith with Christ is just like the beauty of the new fallen snow. I DO need to renew that faith continuously. Because of my own sinfulness my "snow" gets dirty, it loses it's beauty. I am thankful I have a wonderful God who loves me and understands my weaknesses. I am thankful he provides time, even in the midst of a blizzard, to see his beauty and know he is here.

I pray today that everyone is safe from the dangerous conditions outside. Lord please protect those that must work in this. Bless the police department, fire department, electric workers, road crews, health care workers, and leaders in our community. Give them wisdom and strength to do their work and safety to return home. amen!

"We are....."

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, (Ephesians 2:13, 14 NIV)

Before every assembly at GHS  for at least the past 5 years, the principal raises his pointer finger high in the air, he say, "We are...." And we all respond.. "Garrett!" It is used to bring us together as a school. The former Principal started the tradition by saying We are One! Unity is so critical in a school, a family, a business, or any organization. You can not survive with a house divided. You can not be effective with barriers and walls of hostility.

The best way to bring a group together is through Jesus Christ. Our world is so divided. Our communities, our government, our families all follow the same pattern. Jesus is the answer. The more we draw near to him, the more we have true peace. Pray for unity. Pray for oneness in your lives. Pray that your enemies or adversaries will draw near to Christ. As we all draw closer to him our lives will be filled with love and peace.

God is for us!

(James 1:16-18 NIV)
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

God is for us. He loves us and wants us to have a joyous life. It has always been that way and will always be. He wants to be near us and wants us to seek him for everything. So why do so many people act as though God is the enemy and he is against us? I think I can answer that.
Sin!
God's gifts are perfect. He does not change like a shadow from the travel of the sun. It is us who changes. He wants us to receive his gifts, but so many reject them. I have noticed that most of the pain I go through in life is of my own doing. It is easy to blame God. Why doesn't he deliver me from the pain? But, the pain is usually my own. It is usually from me choosing not to accept his gift and his comfort. Even through the toughest times, he wants to share his gifts and provide us comfort. He usually gets our rejection.

God does not change. We do! Ye, he constantly gives us the opportunity to come back to him. He gives us chance upon chance to seek his will. He does not give up on us. He loves us. He always will. 

Peace on Earth.

1 Thessalonians 5

 ¹ Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

This time of year it is so popular to share the saying "Peace on Earth. Goodwill to Men!" It is a noble wish to all on this planet. But it actually comes from the Bible: Luke 2:14 -- 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. But the real meaning of this verse is greatly twisted by our SECULAR society. This verse is used as a christmas wish and I agree with that. But, like 1 Thessalonians 5, people can talk all they want about peace. They can take this time of year to wish for peace on earth. But, Peace is not possible for people living in darkness.  When you look at Luke 2:14 in it's true translation, you will quickly realize this verse reinforces 1 Thess. 5. The better translation of Luke 2:14 is :Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth Peace for those who favor God. The world thinks it can be at peace by our own will. That's just not possible. Peace can't  come unless it's through Jesus Christ. People who live in darkness can not and will not know Peace. It doesn't matter if it's at Christmas or not. Peace is only granted to those who are in God's favor. God favor's his people! We need to be his. We need to love God. We need to  accept his son as our savior. We need to let people know the great peace which comes through that wonderful relationship with God, not through our own will and desire. Simply Love God and Peace on Earth will be possible!

PEACE AND LIFE!

Romans 8

 ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Have you ever met anyone "Hostile" to God. If you spend all your Christian life in Church you probably haven't. But trust me, there are people hostile to God. They hate the Church, they hate the "institution" and they hate anyone who is associated with it.  They view Christ as the enemy to fun and living a full life. They don't know what they're missing. These same people also have a tendency being hostile toward anyone who disagrees with them. They hate their bosses. They hate their families. They hate their life. 

I know what the Bible says about life with Christ. "The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." If you've read this blog you know that my life is not always full of peace. But, I can tell you that I AM at Peace even through the tough times. I am completely amazed that I can remain at peace even when I feel the stress and pressure all around me. That has not always been true. But, the more I grow toward Christ, the more I grow in Peace. I may be asked to make some serious decisions over the next several months and yet I AM AT PEACE. I have been through so many troubling times, and survived. I am at complete peace. I do not feel hostile toward my enemies or those that are against me. I am at peace about who they are and what they are doing. I am at Peace because I am focusing on the Spirit. I can't imagine going through life feeling hostility toward other people and certainly can't imagine feeling hostility toward my creator. I am looking forward to eternal life with my God. I do not fear death because in Christ I will not see death. Peace and Life. Peace AND Life! PEACE AND LIFE!

Peace within you.

Psalm 122

 ⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
   “May those who love you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace within your walls
   and security within your citadels.”
⁸ For the sake of my family and friends,
   I will say, “Peace be within you.” 

I have been in churches my whole life. I have often heard the saying "Peace be with you." and then the response is "and also with you." But this verse puts a little different twist on it. I guess I'm hung up on the word "within" verses just "with". Maybe the difference is only in my mind, but I think of it is significant. I  checked, the King James version also has the same wording as do most other versions. So, it's not an interpretation. The saying "Peace be with you" comes straight from our risen savior in John 20:19. SO I am not trivializing this worthwhile greeting. But, their is a difference.

My impression of saying "Peace be with you." is a focus on the external. It gives the subtle impression that the Peace is out of your control. It is what people do to you, or what your circumstances are, that would cause you peace. When you say "Peace be within you" clearly you are in control of your peace. Maybe I'm crazy, but I had never thought of this before. 

We are in control of our own peace. Well, that's not entirely true. We are in control of the choice to be at peace. Our choice is simple. Choose Christ or not. That's it. I wish "Peace within in you" because I wish Christ to take up residence within you. That is the peace. It's not what others do to you. It's not the circumstances you're in. It is not your job, your family, you finances, your health, or your emotional pain. If everything in your life appears to be perfect you can still be without peace.  Peace within you comes from one source, Christ. Christ alone! It's true when he stood in the room with the disciples greeting them and it's true today when he takes up residence in your heart. His presence brings peace.

So from now on I will say, "Peace be within you" or I will respond "and also within you." 

Peace!

Psalm 85 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹⁰ Love and faithfulness meet together;
   righteousness and peace kiss each other. 
¹¹ Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
   and righteousness looks down from heaven.
¹² The LORD will indeed give what is good,
   and our land will yield its harvest.
¹³ Righteousness goes before him
   and prepares the way for his steps.

Love, Faithfulness, Righteousness, and Peace belong together. If you try to separate these things, life is not complete. Without God, without the faith of things to come, with out following God's will, we can have no peace. When these four things come together, your life will be good. You will receive a harvest beyond all things.  

Our world does everything to try to create Peace. It tries everything to generate Love without God, without Faith, without Righteousness. It can't be done. We wonder why our lives are so incomplete. We wonder why our lives are so complicated and good things don't happen. WE wonder why we don't feel real Peace. I can tell you why! We are trying to do it without the creator of the universe. We ignore him and his son. We ignore his guidance. We ignore his love and his path to peace. Stop ignoring him. Stop right now and Pray for Love through Christ Jesus to enter your life.  Trust in his faithfulness and his righteousness. When you can do all this. His grace will grant you Peace. Peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank You Lord!

IT"S PURE LAZINESS!

Psalm 55 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁴ My heart is in anguish within me;
   the terrors of death have fallen on me.
⁵ Fear and trembling have beset me;
   horror has overwhelmed me.
⁶ I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
   I would fly away and be at rest. ⁷ I would flee far away
   and stay in the desert;^[c] 
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,
   far from the tempest and storm.”

God is just about to give me the wings of a dove and Fly away to be at rest! Spring Break begins in 2 days and I just can't wait. We are heading south to a place of rest. God has blessed us with the means to do this on an annual basis. We just love spending the time with the grandkids and the family. (Although all of us don't get to go this year.)  Our Day consists of getting up and having breakfast then heading straight to the beach. We then spend the rest of the morning laying around and trying to decide when to eat lunch and what to have. We then play some more or lie around on the beach. Then we talk about what we are doing for supper. Then we lay around some more, eat supper, go to bed, and start it all over the next day. IT'S PURE LAZINESS and I can't wait. 

I just love to spend time recharging the batteries and doing it with my great family. Sometimes life is so stormy and the tempest is overwhelming. Our shelter should be God. But, in our fast paced society where we rush from one event to another, we often forget to take the time to find God and enjoy his peace. Sitting along the peaceful shore of the Gulf of Mexico, I have often found the peace of God far away from the hustle and bustle of Garrett and GHS. 

Dear Lord, Thank you for providing the opportunity to get away. I know that so many people don't get the chance to do this. I know it is only by your grace. Help us to relax, enjoy each other, and enjoy your presence while we are away. I praise you for your blessings. I praise you for the gifts you provide. I praise you for the gift of your son. Amen!

Walking with God!

Psalm 48 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹² Walk about Zion, go around her,
   count her towers, ¹³ consider well her ramparts,
   view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
   to the next generation.

 ¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever;
   he will be our guide even to the end.

Before I start, remember I ride a Harley. I love riding, sweeping turns, s-curves, and speed! But, I also enjoy a great leisure walk. I really don't take the time to go walking very often. But, when I do it is amazing what I can see. When you are traveling by four wheels or two, you just don't have time to appreciate all that is around you. My problem is, even when I go for a walk, I walk to fast to really enjoy it. I have developed such a fast walk, Stephanie says she feels like my little Amish woman. She is always walks about two or three paces behind me.

I need to slow down. When I do finally take a nice leisure walk, it is so therapeutic. I can take-in the trees, the grass, the animals, and the smell of the air. I can actually see things, not just the blur, as I speed by on my way to some scheduled event. God loves it when we slow down. He loves it when we can spend some slow/leisure time with him. WE need to spend quiet time enjoying his presence. We can't spend all our time just "Asking for stuff", we need to just chat quietly, thoughtfully, or not speak at all. God knows our heart. He knows we need quiet. He knows we need peace. He knows that he is the only real refuge in a crazy, hurry-up world!

Thank You Lord for providing us with peace. Thank you for quiet walks. Thank you for slowing us down so we can look at all you have created and blessed us with. You are great. You are awesome. We Love you! Amen!

Walking with God!

Psalm 48 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹² Walk about Zion, go around her,
   count her towers, ¹³ consider well her ramparts,
   view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
   to the next generation.
 ¹⁴ For this God is our God for ever and ever;
   he will be our guide even to the end.


Before I start, remember I ride a Harley. I love riding, sweeping turns, s-curves, and speed! But, I also enjoy a great leisure walk. I really don't take the time to go walking very often. But, when I do it is amazing what I can see. When you are traveling by four wheels or two, you just don't have time to appreciate all that is around you. My problem is, even when I go for a walk, I walk to fast to really enjoy it. I have developed such a fast walk, Stephanie says she feels like my little Amish woman. She is always walks about two or three paces behind me.

I need to slow down. When I do finally take a nice leisure walk, it is so therapeutic. I can take-in the trees, the grass, the animals, and the smell of the air. I can actually see things, not just the blur, as I speed by on my way to some scheduled event. God loves it when we slow down. He loves it when we can spend some slow/leisure time with him. WE need to spend quiet time enjoying his presence. We can't spend all our time just "Asking for stuff", we need to just chat quietly, thoughtfully, or not speak at all. God knows our heart. He knows we need quiet. He knows we need peace. He knows that he is the only real refuge in a crazy, hurry-up world!

Thank You Lord for providing us with peace. Thank you for quiet walks. Thank you for slowing us down so we can look at all you have created and blessed us with. You are great. You are awesome. We Love you! Amen!